Ylide-functionalised phosphanes for use in metal complexes and homogeneous catalysis

A process for performing a coupling reaction containing the steps of

• providing a reaction mixture containing at least a substrate, a coupling partner, and a metal complex containing a phosphane ligands of formulas YPR1R2 (I), Y2PR1 (II) or Y3P (III)
• where
• Y represents an ylide substituent bound to the phosphorus atom through the carbanionic center and having onium groups On and X groups,
• On, is phosphonium groups-P (R3R4R5),
• X, is cyano (—CN), and
• R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5, if any, are independently selected from alkyl, aryl and heteroaryl groups that may be unsubstituted or substituted with functional groups, and
• reacting said substrate with said coupling partner in the presence of the metal complex to form a coupling product.